Chapter 66: Heqin Returns

“Back again!”

Lina really knew how to enjoy herself.

She lay comfortably in the arms of the maid, eating a lovingly-made omelet rice while sipping on some high-quality black tea.

Only at times like this would Jiang Cha remember that this girl was actually a princess from a big family, and not some streetwise little troublemaker.

“Mm, you’re back, huh?”

Jiang Cha smiled gently and reached out to ruffle her little head. “Good for you, Lina.”

“Though my heart’s broken into pieces, and each piece fell in love with a different girl, Cha Bao, you gotta believe me—the piece that loves you is the biggest!”

Lina giggled, spouting some cheesy pickup lines she probably learned somewhere.

So cringe.

“Ugh—”

Jiang Cha shivered and scratched the goosebumps rising on her arm.

“Annie’s still the best, the fickle little loli might as well be a loser.”

“Hey—Cha Bao!!”

“Hahaha~”

Even the maids couldn’t help but laugh.

They were professionals who rarely cracked up, but the lively expression on the golden-haired loli’s face was just too entertaining.

“You two get along really well.”

Annie whispered with admiration.

“In the future you see, is Lina involved at all?”

“Of course, but I can’t say.”

Annie shook her head, smiling mysteriously. “Girls need a little mystery to be charming… that’s what you taught me.”

“Eh—”

Jiang Cha stretched the sound, her eyes twinkling with amusement, “Did the future me ever tell you Annie’s just as cute and tempting even without being mysterious?”

“Ugh!”

The red-haired witch’s face instantly flushed bright red.

Straight shot—completely caught off guard!

“So cute.”

Jiang Cha gently ruffled Annie’s little head.

Still so innocent.

But that innocence was just right.

Trying to act like a love expert but getting outplayed easily—just perfect and adorable.

“Hmph~”

“Fickle little northern loli.”

Annie grunted softly, lowering her head to mumble something.

Jiang Cha heard it clearly but didn’t respond.

No need to; Annie understood her better than she thought—maybe she could see more than just fragments of the future.

…

Leisure time always passed quickly. After visiting Annie’s café, Jiang Cha and Lina turned around to meet the last member of their trio.

Well, Jiang Cha, Lina, Heqin, and Estelle—four people in a trio was pretty normal.

Right, Yuki?

“Qin Bao~~”

Lina immediately launched herself at Heqin, using her dragon girl combat skills—the bio-dragon tactic, mimicking a real red dragon’s pounce.

Only to be swatted away by the magical puppet trailing behind Heqin.

“Lina-chan!”

The graceful Yamato woman anxiously chased after Lina, who’d been thrown flying.

“Sorry, I didn’t have time to add you guys to the new puppet’s whitelist.”

“It’s… it’s okay.”

Lina’s voice was so weak it sounded like she was about to die.

But Jiang Cha just sipped her tea and watched the show, while Estelle didn’t even bother to glance her way.

The little dragon girl was tough; if she was so easy to knock out, Jiang Cha wouldn’t have to compete with her in battles every day.

And this “about to die” look? Ninety-nine point nine percent acting.

“As long as Mama Qin lets me have a hug, I’ll die happy.”

“Then go die.”

Heqin grumpily tossed the lustful loli away.

That girl had sneakily reached out to grab her waist.

“Mama Qin doesn’t love me anymore, waaaah.”

“I never loved you, okay! And don’t call me mama!”

Heqin grumbled angrily but wasn’t really mad.

She’d gotten used to Lina’s antics. She walked over to Jiang Cha and Estelle.

After a busy day, Heqin picked up a cup of black tea and took a sip.

Turning to Jiang Cha: “How was your holiday?”

“Same as always, mama~”

Jiang Cha put down her book and snuggled close to Heqin, her voice sticky-sweet and teasing.

Though both called “mama,” Lina’s sounded like a kid whining “Mom! I’m hungry!” at home, while Jiang Cha’s tone was more like some naughty game in a hotel bed.

Super lewd.

Probably Cha Bao’s special talent—to turn any atmosphere into something sultry.

“Pfft!!”

Heqin spat out her tea and wiped her mouth, annoyed.

“Jiang Cha-chan!!”

“Hahaha~”

Jiang Cha’s laugh was clear and pleasant, but also very cheeky.

So wild that even Heqin’s fist involuntarily clenched.

“Long time no see, Heqin~”

But the beautiful girl suddenly stopped laughing, her voice gentle and nostalgic.

Her black hair and red eyes added to her soft charm.

It felt like when a usually carefree big sister suddenly turns serious and pulls out a baseball bat to deal with some harassing punk.

Such a huge contrast.

What does it feel like when a mischievous catgirl suddenly softly says “Welcome back”?

If it were another witch, this might not be suitable to say.

But this is Heqin.

Mama Qin was momentarily stunned, then relaxed and smiled:

“Yeah, I’m back.”

“Eh eh eh! Could this be what they call ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’!?”

Lina jumped up and started hyping things up.

“Nope.”

Jiang Cha shook her head and blew Lina a flying kiss:

“I still love you, Lina baby~”

“Mua! Knew Cha Bao was the best… wait! Are you changing the subject?”

Lina reacted instinctively, then her little head spun as she sensed something was off.

“Hehe~”

“Hehe what!”

…

Heqin’s return didn’t seem to change daily life much, but somehow everything felt different.

First, Mama Qin took over the kitchen again, supporting three hungry mouths all by herself.

Second, Estelle was noticeably more lively.

She couldn’t really join Jiang Cha and Lina’s playful antics, so when Heqin wasn’t around, she wouldn’t often be in the living room.

She was like the lubricant of the dorm’s four-person group.

Taking care of the quiet youngest daughter (Estelle), managing the rambunctious elder daughters (Jiang Cha and Lina), quietly and gently looking after the whole family—that was definitely a mother!

Come on, say it with me:

Mama Qin, the best!

Most importantly, the atmosphere.

The entire dorm just felt more harmonious.

“Did Heqin bring us any gifts this time she went back?”

“Busy as hell, didn’t have time to go out… maybe next time?”

Heqin blinked awkwardly, then suddenly remembered:

“What about Jiang Cha-chan and Lina-chan? Gifts…”

“Hahaha~ don’t worry about that kind of thing!”

Lina just laughed and tried to brush it off.

As for Jiang Cha…

“Five days away, four of which were drifting in space—next time I’ll bring you guys some meteorites as gifts?”

“I want titanium ore!”

Estelle perked up suddenly.

“No way! I can’t afford to sell myself to buy that!”

…